Sanitized History

            Sanitize definition: to make less offensive by eliminating anything unwholesome, objectionable, incriminating, etc.

We sanitize our history.  We erase all kinds of social, cultural, and economic conflict from it.  We run away, in a sense, from ourselves, from what we and our ancestors – whoever they are – created.  Indeed, this history is highly peculiar, for it avoids acknowledging the accompanying social inequalities that capitalism (and any other economic system, for that matter) creates as it remakes society according to its own rules and imagination.  The matter of privilege — and of white privilege in particular, given the majority-minority state in which we live today — is largely relegated to the dustbin of history.  The truth be told, the silences in our histories speak as much truth to power as the histories we publicly uphold.

We must strive to teach a plural people’s history for Texas students in the twenty-first century.  A recent study by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) contains in it past, current and future projections for the public and nonpublic high school graduates of Texas from 1991-2022. (1)   According to this study, Texas Latino high school graduates will be greater in number than Anglo high school graduates beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.  By May 2020, the date through which the current social studies curricular standards under discussion will presumably apply, Latino high school graduates in Texas will number an estimated 156,000 students.  By comparison, by the end of the current decade Anglo high school graduates will number 102,000.  That is, the statewide spring graduating classes in May 2020 will host 54,000 more Latino high school graduates than their Anglo counterparts.

https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/126436

            While I was looking for a reasonable explanation and plausible definition of “sanitizing history,” I came across this article. There’s more, but I excerpted the two paragraphs to help support what I’ve said in another article and what I’m about to say in this one.

            The fear that “old white men” are feeling about becoming the minority is palpable in their attempts to revamp the voting rules (violating our constitutional rights) as well as with their reluctance to support police reforms. They are afraid—big time—and have been for some time because they (those understanding karma) fear being treated the way they have treated minorities of color. They can deny this all they want, but the proof is in how for decades they have attempted to erase large swaths of history in order to make themselves look like better human beings.

They have rather successfully brainwashed people with their revisionist histories about how awful white men are as human beings. It’s not all white men, just those who are racial bigots and would rather hate others than change their minds. When we look at how Texas changed the related content in history books to pacify their egos and allowed Texas students to be led by lies, we see the proof in some of the Texas legislators now—they didn’t want their children to know how horrible their ancestors had been, so they either erased the true history, or sanitized it so it would not seem so bad. They have eliminated the parts of history they find objectionable and unwholesome and offensive since they were the culprits. But they have also eliminated the opportunity for students in Texas to know truth, to see for themselves and to learn to think for themselves which results in not being controlled.

With this particular view of what it means to “sanitize history,” we begin to understand how or rather why textbook publications, supplying the Texas school districts, were so easily convinced to exchange the truth for a lie. In the long run, it helped those in powerful positions to ignore all the wrongdoings of “white men” for centuries.  The massacre of Native Inhabitants, treatment of slaves, Chinese railroad workers, Japanese Interment camps, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and generally racist policies that excluded or eluded most people of color in this land. But one thing is certainly true as pointed out by Richard Calderon, the author of the article referenced—white people will soon be the minority in the United States and perhaps, that is the real reason why “white lawmakers” are trying so desperately to keep immigrants out of the United States—especially those from Central America, the Middle East and Africa.

When “white people” use the bible to justify their behavior or attitudes, it is out of fear that “we” the others would discover the truth and lo and behold we have. We have discovered that Jesus was a person of color having come from the Middle East, He loved everyone, and had a real problem with slavery and hypocrites.  “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).  I am convinced that White Evangelicals that teach they are superior to others are the biggest liars on the planet and they lie to their congregations to control what they do and how they think. That is not to say that other religious denominations don’t do the same thing, but let’s get real, religions are designed to control people and convince them to swallow whatever lies they’re told.

Now, for those of us who know how to read and how to think, we know better. Many of us are “true Christians” and we know what is expected of us is that we are to love one another unconditionally. Therefore, if we are busy loving one another, we don’t have time to promote hate or fear of others because love conquers all. Love will even conquer the need of people to sanitize history for their own sakes, but will conquer the need of those who were mistaught to influence their need for truth. Fearful people, put undue constraints upon others, controlling what they’re exposed to and limiting their ability to develop critical thinking skills, especially about the history of our nation, the true, unsanitized version of history.

Yes, haters of truth—the world is not flat, the Holocaust and slavery were very real, vaccines have saved lives, Easter is not about a rabbit or chickens, parents buy toys for kids at Christmas, and no one human being is superior to another. Did you catch that? Truth matters, and Black Lives Matter as well as all others. Stop The Hate America—in order for us all to matter and to survive and thrive, we must stop hating and start loving.

Advertisement

Trashing Democracy

It is the 14th day of November, 11 days after the 2020 presidential election and the incumbent has lost his bid for re-election. Granted, over 70 million people tried to keep him in office, but considering who he is and what he has done that demonstrates a lack of humanity, what does that say about those who voted for him?

Just a brief recap–2016 trump supporters called Democrats snowflakes–said we were butt hurt over Hillary’s loss. I remember telling someone on another platform that snowflakes can be dangerous when they collect in a blizzard. I guess I was right–all of us snowflakes came together to create a wipe-out with the election of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris.

In 2016, hostile journalists on Fox derided Hillary for removing herself from the media circus for some quiet reflection time. In 2020, trump has been a whiny brat–claiming voter fraud and all sorts of allegations for which they had no evidence. Now, in 2016, we know that Russia interfered in the election with disinformation and misinformation and they did the same thing in 2020, but those of us who pay attention were ready for them. Now, trumpsters are so upset they’ve retreated to a new social media platform where they can complain and get ugly without filters. That doesn’t hurt my feelings at all and for some reason, after a time, trumpsters chose not to engage with me on social media platforms. On those rare occasions they would actually try responding to something I said, they quickly backed off when they realized, I take no prisoners when it comes to fact-checking stupid.

But it’s not their fault that most are uneducated and ill-informed–that’s the way trump likes them. And ill-informed they shall be, especially accepting an entertainment network to be a real news network. From most of the statistics already analyzed, trump voters primarily consisted of low-educated white men and women who support white supremacy and some poorly educated black people and Latinos. Other than the highly corrupt GOP elected officials, not many seemed to think education was an important factor in supporting trump. Oh yeah, can’t forget to include the hypocritical evanglicalliars. Amazing how they managed to convinced their flocks to believe God put trump in office and yet, they bemoaned the fact that Barack Obama was president and as yet–haven’t acknowledged that Joe Biden has won the election. I’m guessing they’re waiting for God to make that pronouncement or they think He’s taking a nap.

Okay, I’m being a tad facetious. God doesn’t get involved with politics–He gives us freewill choice to elect whoever and He will always honor our choices. But here is why I know the God of heaven had nothing to do with electing trump–His Word tells us to, “Love our neighbors as ourselves.” There was never any neighborly love shown to our allies–Canada and Mexico, but lots of love for our adversaries–North Korea and Russia. I’m still convinced that trump was a puppet controlled by Russia all along and that the loss of this election puts both them under the microscope and all the corruption will be found–no matter how many documents the trump administration shreds. Right is right and what’s done in the dark or under the cloak of wrongdoing–shall certainly be exposed to the light of truth.

For those who don’t like to believe in facts and math, let me clarify this for you–the numbers some trumpsters believe to be true are the numbers that came in on Election night after the polls closed, but not after all votes had been counted. As absentee ballots were counted, trump’s lead dwindled to nothingness in the swing states he needed for a win. And now–to befuddle the madness in the trumpster realm, they’re claiming only the ballots cast on Election Day should count as “legal votes.” This effort to discount every ballot cast is an attempt by trump and his corrupt regime to trash democracy since he thought he would become an American dictator. In any election, every vote must be counted because each vote represents the voice of a voter. This is how democracy works–we get a chance to have a voice in our government.

In 2016, we didn’t whine–we went to work–educating and informing people of the importance of their vote and the issues that were important to them: healthcare, education, job security, and climate change. 2020 brought with it a pandemic so deadly we’ve lost over 240,000 Americans because trump, refused to tell Americans the truth about the virus and his delayed response, was deadly.

We knew what would happen in 2020 and it did. We, The People, spoke and spoke loudly.

So rather than enable the toddler-in-chief, it’s time for trumplicans (can’t call them Republicans because they have embarrassed the true party) to accept reality and convince the menace it’s over and he might as well cooperate with the transition of power. It will take place, with his cooperation or not and if without–his legacy will remain a huge stain in the history books that will never be erased. His place in the hall of shame will be highlighted and the infamy of this 1-term remembered for generations to come.

That said, I’m still waiting to hear from the hypocrites–those claiming to be Christians yet lie every time they utter the word, Christian. They know where to find me and I know where to find them and of course, they’ll have excuses up the wazoo to deny the election results. At any rate, let me offer an invitation to the inauguration on 1/20/2021 and let’s see who’s sworn into office. Finally, democracy is saved as is the soul of our nation with the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and no amount of fear-mongering is going to change that.

For a new day that includes all Americans!

The Lost Country!

“My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray
and turned them loose in the mountains.
They have lost their way
and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold. Jeremiah 50:6 NLT

Then the LORD said to me, “Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves. “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!” Zechariah 11:15-17 NIV

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 1 Corinthians 15:18 NIV

There are those in this country who proclaim to be Christians–followers of Christ and doing what Christ would do, yet, when looking at the plight of the land in America, we do not see Christ-like behavior in much of what they condone in “their choice” an elected leader–one who is supposed to be “president of America,” which includes all Americans, not just some.

Though I may appear to be a broken record, it makes sense to repeat those things that need to be repeated, in order to bring realization to those who may be asleep or have deliberately ignored the signs in front of them–America is in crisis–and the crisis is the result of the promotion of a person who has never known God, does not know God, and thinks he is a god (and some are worshiping him as one). His malignant narcissism keeps his focus on him and what he wants rather than what is best for the nation. Before anyone attempts to refute this statement by saying, “you don’t know his heart,” let me say for the record–I do know his heart and everyone with a brain and knowledge of The Word–knows his heart. For The Word states, “From the abundance of the heart–the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45)

Right out the gate–the cult followers will say, “But we have more money in our pay checks.” “He’s rolling back job-killing regulations.” “He’s getting rid of all the immigrants who are taking American jobs.” “He’s pushing the Christian agenda.”

Let me address each of these four points (there are more) separately.

Some people will see more money in their paychecks because of the “tax cut scam” passed which gave the wealthiest Americans the greatest tax cut and still did not benefit the working class the most. When we understand the government “runs on tax dollars” we also understand cutting the revenue will place an undue burden on future generations and Senior Citizens now, since the next step of the “great tax cut” includes gutting Social Security and medicare to make up some of the lost revenue that was given to the rich. 

Can’t ignore the fact that though many companies touted giving bonuses because of the tax cut, 93K jobs have been outsourced, 63 Sam’s Clubs closed, ATT laying off workers and many others. I’m sure those who received bonuses and later (some in the same week) lost their jobs, would rather have the job than a one-time bonus of a $1K.

Who loses with the tax cuts? Every poor person who ever dependent on social programs funded by tax dollars loses. Every student in America who attends a public school loses because of budget cuts. Every veteran in America who has served this country and as a result–suffered either physical or mental trauma–loses benefits because of tax cuts. Every Senior Citizen stands to lose benefits they earned and contributed to because Republicans (in particular–Paul Ryan) thinks Social Security is not an “earned benefit” but something people think they’re entitled to having. We are entitled to having what we contributed to–and nothing a greedy person who received $500K from a donor for cutting taxes says or does, will ever deter us from fighting for what is rightfully ours. And by the way, Paul Ryan bragged on Twitter on 2/3/18 (later deleted) that a secretary in PA was, “pleasantly surprised to see an increase of a $1.50 in her paycheck.” I’m not sure he missed the sarcasm that may have provoked the statement or if he’s just that obtuse. But I’m sure the Koch Brothers, the Mercers and Murdochs, as well as other rich donors are thrilled.

Rolling back job-killing regulations–For every regulation that is rolled back–those put in place to maintain the safety of consumers and workers, we risk life and limb just so the demagogue can brag and those supporting him–grin and brag–about him getting rid of “everything President Obama did” to keep us safe. This is the real reason for much of what he does–his motivation is hatred for Obama–not concern for the American people. Because of those “roll backs,” we risk dying from contaminated water and soil and polluted air. I have to conclude he’d rather people die than keep safety precautions in place. Five people have died from a gas-rig fire, Amtrak has had three accidents in which people have died, and oil spills have contaminated land will contaminate the water if plans move forward for coastline drilling. This is pure greed and has nothing to do with the welfare of Americans, but in making sure they die early–especially those in coal mines.

On keeping immigrants out of America to keep them from taking jobs from Americans–I’m still waiting for all those making such complaints to come forward and show us–the entire world–how willing they are to help gather produce for farmers, clean hotel rooms, and do it all for very low wages. If there are Americans out there who want these jobs, why was it necessary for the demagogue to obtain Visas for immigrants to work at his properties? And on the same note–why is the demagogue and his family still producing goods in China and other countries? Is it because he doesn’t want to pay a living wage to Americans?

We’ve lost out on trade because of his ignorance as to how “world trade” works and many of the countries (11) have decided to move forth without us and many farmers are not happy about this development. Implementing tariffs on goods–makes it more difficult for Americans to purchase goods produced outside of America and when we cannot purchase the goods, those who distribute the goods won’t need workers to sell them. Not a lot of thought went into this decision and again, the only driving force–greed for those who already are rich.

Thinking the resident in the Oval Office is a Christian and pushing a Christian agenda is probably the biggest farce “White Evangelicals” have promoted to their unsuspecting congregations. Or maybe the congregation knew and didn’t care. At any rate, let me reiterate some of the character traits that demonstrate one is a follower of Christ.

• We love all unconditionally because God loved us so much, He sent His only Son (came in the likeness of sinful flesh) to do what we couldn’t do–on our own. He took sin upon Himself and opened the way for us to ascend into Heaven for all eternity.
• We take care of the poor and the needy.
• We visit those in prisons or are otherwise incapacitated (the shut-in, not shut-out).
• We promote unity of all, not division.
• We provide shelter for the homeless and refuge for the disenfranchised.
• We stand firm against the wiles of the devil and recognize when he has “deceived the very elect.”
• We don’t lie or protect pathological liars for The Word says, “all liars will end up in the lake of fire.”
• We don’t provoke hatred or war with other countries.

Listening to the “shepherds” who were supposed to guide and direct–we have allowed them to be the reason–our country is lost and we may have difficulty finding our way back–to being who Christ wants us to be.

For those who would attempt to refute what I’ve said by falsely claiming that America was founded on Christianity, I would say get out your history books and understand that using “biblical principles” to establish our Constitution does not mean it was founded upon Christianity. The bible makes no reference to Christianity and to clarify the matter–the Bible is a summary of historical events that provide us with insight as to how God worked with the Children of Israel, and how we came to be joint-heirs with them. Don’t buy into the hype–know for certain–what you believe and why.

This won’t be the last time I address this issue, and today–it was important to emphasize it for those who think this country is headed in the right direction–we’re not– but we can be, if we exercise our right to vote–without interference or hindrance from those who would attempt to oppress us.